Bracelet



Zlwuwntz L. Ev VALCOURT BRACELET Filed July 31 1924 Feb. 2 1926.

EV'a/couri.

Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,571,533 PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS EDMOND VALGOURT, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T O LOUIS STERN 00., F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

BBAGELET.

Application filed July 31, 1924. Serial No. 729,273.

To all whom it Hi (13 concern.

Be it known that I, LOUIS E. VALCOURT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State otRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to improvements in the construction of bracelets or chains formed of a plurality of links flexibly connecied together; and the object of'this invention is to provide in such a bracelet means whereby the links may be readily disconnected one from the other for the purpose of extending or reducing the operating length of the bracelet.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved bracelet as attached to a wrist watch.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective View showing one of the box links with end fingers before they are bent inwardly into operating position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slide link which is adapted to be housed and slide endwise in one of the box links.

Figure 4 is an abutment bar against which one end of the spring rests.

Figure 5 is a perspective view partly in section showing the slide link as being partly withdrawn from its housing box link and the next adjacent box link in position to have its connecting fingers passed through side notches in the slide link to detachably connect the two together.

Figure 6 is a top view in section showing some of the links partially extended.

Figure 7 is an edge view of the bracelet link shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top view showing the bracelet links as extended and illustrating the top, closing wall of the slide link.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the links shown in Fi re 8 showing open side edges of the slide li nks.

It is found in the practical construction and use of bracelets of'this character, of advantage to provide means whereby difierout links may be readily connected and disconnected to and from each other for the purpose of adding or removing one or more of the links to adjust the working length of the bracelet and also to provide a bracelet in which the links are very strong and durable and which cannot be easily broken even by excessive strains which are often applied to extendible bracelets of this character; and" the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished With reference to the drawings, 10 designates one of the box-shaped links of the bracelet, which is preferably provided on its opposite ends with fingers 11 and 12 which are turned inwardly as best illustrated in Figure 6, for the purpose of connecting the box links with the slide links which are mounted in their adjacent box links In each of these box links, I. have mounted a so-called slide link 13 which is preferably formed from a plate or strip of metal bent into band form with a top wall 14, a bottom wall 15 and end walls 16 and 17. This slide link is arranged to nicely fit in its box link to move freely endwise therein and the bottom wall 15 of this slide link is notched as at 18 on its opposite edges for the purpose presently described. The end wall 17 ofthis slide link is preferably cut or slit and the slit portion 19 is forced in wardly providing an extending finger over which one end of the spring 20 passes to hold this portion of the spring in operating position.

In assembling the parts, the fingers 11 on the box are turned inwardly as shown in Figure 6 and the slide linkis then inserted into the opposite end of its housing box link, the spring 20 is then inserted over the inwardly extending portion 19 and an abutment bar is then positioned in the box with its, finger member 22 extending into the op posite end of the spring 20. The fingers 12 of this box link are then turned inwardly over this abutment bar thus operatively securing the slide link in its box link. The different link units are made up in this way and when it is desired to connect these units together it is only necessary to draw outwardly the slide link from its box link and hook, the inwardly inturned finger 11 of the next box link may then be pressed through the then exposed cuts or recesses 18 in the bottom wall thereof by tipping the box link up at right angles thereto into position illustrated in Figure 5, then after these fingers have been inserted through these notches, the link is turned down into the same plane as the rest "of the links, and the link units are securely but yet detachably connected together thus providing a very strong and durable bracelet which is capable of withstanding heavy and unusual strains to which such bracelets are sometimes subjected.

It is to be noted that when the bracelet is in extended osition the slide links being in band or p ate-like form serve to close the opening between the outer or boxwlinks and thus both irner and outer links may be ornamented to present a continued ornamental surface even when the bracelet is in extended position.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.In a bracelet structure, a series of boxshaped links, a series of connecting links slidable in said box links, and integral members on the links of one series bent into position to extend laterally of said link for detachably engaging portions of the links of the other series.

2. In a bracelet structure, a series of boxshaped links, a series of connecting links slidable in said box links, and oppositelydisposed integral end fingers on the links of one series bent inwardly from the walls thereof for detachably engaging portions of the links of the other series.-

3. In a bracelet structure, a series of boxshaped links, a series of connectin links slidable in said box links, and functlonally non-resilient end members on the links of one series bent from the stock of'one link to extend laterally thereof for detachably and hingedly engaging portions of the links of the other series.

4. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links havin inturned end fingers, a side link in caci box link having an imperforate plate with end walls, said plate being notched in its edges to permit the passage of said fingers to engage said end walls, and a spring acting between the box links and its slide link to draw the box links together.

5. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, a slide link in each box link having top, bottom, and end walls, 'each box link having members engaging the end walls of the next adjacent slide link said slide link having an opening to permit the memher to be passed therethrough for detachably connecting said links together, and a spring acting to draw the adjacent box links together.

6. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links having attaching fingers, a band-shaped slide link in each box having openings in one of its walls to receive said fingers by which two links may be detachably connected together, and a spring acting between the slide link and a box link for y'ieldinglyholding the latter in contracted position.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

LOUIS EDMOND VALCOURT. 

